Editing Jet Li (section)

== Views on life and martial arts ==

Li, as a Buddhist, believes that the difficulties of everyday life can be overcome with the help of religious philosophies.<ref name="strong-in-life" /> He thinks that fame is not something he can control; therefore, he does not care about it.<ref>{{cite web |last=Li |first=Jet |title=What do you think about fame? |url=http://jetli.com/jet/index.php?l=en&s=life&ss=questions&p=x&date=020214 |work=Questions |publisher=Jetli.com |access-date=8 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713104613/http://jetli.com/jet/index.php?l=en&s=life&ss=questions&p=x&date=020214 |archive-date=13 July 2011 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

{{blockquote|quote=I never say to myself I'm the best fighter in the world. If someone learns martial arts solely to pick fights on the street, to lean on it as a keystone weapon in conflicts, to use it to bully and intimidate others – then that person, in my opinion, cannot be considered a true martial artist.<ref name="fight" />}}

According to Li, everything he has ever wanted to tell the world can be found in three of his films: the message of ''[[Hero (2002 film)|Hero]]'' is that the suffering of one person can never be as significant as the suffering of a nation; ''[[Unleashed (2005 film)|Unleashed]]'' shows that violence is never a solution; and ''[[Fearless (2006 film)|Fearless]]'' tells that the biggest enemy of a person is himself. Li thinks that the greatest weapon is a smile and the largest power is love.<ref name="time" />

About Wushu, he said that he believes the essence of martial arts is not power or speed but inner harmony, and considers it a sad development that today's Wushu championships place greater emphasis on form than on the essence of being a martial artist. He believes Wushu now lacks individuality and competitors move like machines, whereas according to his views Wushu should not be considered a race where the fastest athlete wins. He would like to see Wushu as a form of art, where artists have a distinctive style. Li blames the new competition rules that, according to him, place limitations on martial artists.<ref>{{cite web |last = Li |first = Jet |title = Wushu, Past and Present |url = http://www.fightingarts.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=282933 |work = Essays |publisher = jetli.com |access-date = 11 December 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161220201133/http://www.fightingarts.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=282933 |archive-date = 20 December 2016 |df = dmy-all }}</ref>

Li believes that Wushu is not primarily for self-defense and instead of trying to play the hero people should think about peaceful resolutions of conflicts and call the police if necessary: <blockquote>"A gun outdoes years of martial arts training in a split second. Like I've said many times before, it is important to differentiate between movies and reality. The hero in movies may be able to knock the gun off his opponent and save the day, but in real life – probably that is not the case."<ref>{{cite web |last = Li |first = Jet |title = The definition of Wushu – Part 2 |url = http://jetli.com/jet/index.php?l=en&s=body&ss=essays&p=3 |work = Essays |publisher = Jetli.com |access-date = 8 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110713104632/http://jetli.com/jet/index.php?l=en&s=body&ss=essays&p=3 |archive-date = 13 July 2011 |df = dmy-all }}</ref></blockquote> He has also stated that he has never had to use his martial arts skills in a real-life fight and he does not wish to, either.<ref name="fight" />

=== Taiji Zen ===
 
In 2011, Li founded Taiji Zen, along with co-founder Executive chairman [[Jack Ma]]. Taiji Zen combined the martial art of [[tai chi]] (''taijiquan'' in Chinese) with practices such as [[meditation]]. It packaged these into several different classes and online programs.<ref>{{cite web |title = What is Taiji Zen? |url = http://www.taijizen.com/en/singlepage.html?11_3#.UqeMOFbkrCE |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140228064119/http://www.taijizen.com/en/singlepage.html?11_3#.UqeMOFbkrCE |archive-date = 28 February 2014 |access-date = 15 April 2015 }}</ref>

=== Philanthropy ===
[[file:Jet Li - Annual Meeting of the New Champions Tianjin 2008.jpg|thumb|Li speaks at the [[World Economic Forum]] in Tianjin, China, September 2008]]
Li has been a "philanthropic ambassador" of the [[Red Cross Society of China]] since January 2006. He contributed 500,000 yuan ({{US$|62,500}}) of box office revenues from his film ''Fearless'' to the Red Cross' psychological sunshine project, which promotes mental health.<ref>"Jet Li Becomes 'Philanthropic Ambassador' of Red Cross."  Xinhua News Agency. 23 January 2006. [http://china.org.cn/english/features/film/155991.htm China.org.cn] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211025309/http://china.org.cn/english/features/film/155991.htm |date=11 December 2008 }}</ref>

In April 2007, touched by his life-shaking experience in the Maldives when he was close to dying during the [[Effect of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake on the Maldives|2004 tsunami]], Li formed his own non-profit foundation called [[One Foundation]].<ref>{{cite web |url = http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/01/08/talkasia.jetli/index.html |title = Interview with Jet Li |publisher = CNN |date = 24 September 2008 |access-date = 2 October 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101024052417/http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/01/08/talkasia.jetli/index.html |archive-date = 24 October 2010 |df = dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.onefoundation.cn/ |title = The One Foundation |publisher = Onefoundation.cn |access-date = 2 October 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100925092113/http://onefoundation.cn/ |archive-date = 25 September 2010 |df = dmy-all }}</ref> The One Foundation supports international disaster relief efforts in conjunction with the Red Cross as well as other efforts, including mental health awareness and suicide prevention. Since the starting of the foundation, Li has been involved with recovery efforts in seven disasters, including the [[2008 Sichuan earthquake]]<ref name="newsweek.com" /> and [[Typhoon Morakot]] in Taiwan.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-08/17/content_11899532.htm |title = Chinese mainland to hold television fundraiser for Taiwan typhoon relief |publisher = xinhuanet.com. |access-date = 14 November 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090821140853/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-08/17/content_11899532.htm |archive-date = 21 August 2009 |df = dmy-all }}</ref> In the [[2013 Lushan earthquake]] in [[Ya'an]], Sichuan, Li and other members of the entertainment sector were the first to appeal for donations of money, goods and materials to help the victims of the disaster.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.onefoundation.cn/ |title = The One Foundation |publisher = Onefoundation.cn |access-date = 3 May 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130504062734/http://www.onefoundation.cn/ |archive-date = 4 May 2013 |df = dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://news.ifeng.com/mainland/special/lushandizhen/content-3/detail_2013_04/21/24457577_0.shtml |title = 壹基金在雅安地震首日募得2900万善款_资讯频道_凤凰网 |work = ifeng.com |access-date = 30 May 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160630092403/http://news.ifeng.com/mainland/special/lushandizhen/content-3/detail_2013_04/21/24457577_0.shtml |archive-date = 30 June 2016 |df = dmy-all }}</ref> [[Wu Jing (actor)|Wu Jing]] was a One Foundation volunteer and helped in the effort.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.wu-jing.org/happenings/archives/516-Wu-Jing-Gives-a-Helping-Hand-in-Sichuan.html |title = Wu Jing Gives a Helping Hand in Sichuan |publisher = Wu-Jing.org |access-date = 2 October 2010 |url-status=usurped |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130718041131/http://www.wu-jing.org/happenings/archives/516-Wu-Jing-Gives-a-Helping-Hand-in-Sichuan.html |archive-date = 18 July 2013 |df = dmy-all }}</ref>

Li discussed his commitment to philanthropy in an interview with the December 2009 issue of ''Alliance'' magazine, stating that "grassroots non-government organizations can help the government in its blind spots. Government relief is not always detail-oriented. Grassroots NGOs can't be as big as a government effort, but they need to be flexible and independent."<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.alliancemagazine.org/en/content/interview-jet-li |title = Interview – Jet Li &#124; |publisher = Alliancemagazine.org |date = 1 December 2009 |access-date = 2 October 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110718145649/http://www.alliancemagazine.org/en/content/interview-jet-li |archive-date = 18 July 2011 }}</ref>

In September 2010, he was appointed by the International Red Cross as the first Good Will Ambassador. He posted online, saying: <blockquote>"Today I signed a deal with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies – IFRC – to become the FIRST goodwill ambassador in the history of this humanitarian organization. I am very honored! At the same time, I will not pause to celebrate, but instead keep pushing forward and do my best to help the world! Thank you all once again for your support and belief in me!"<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.alivenotdead.com/jetli/International-Federation-of-Red-Cross-and-Red-Crescent-Societies-profile-1078102.html |title = International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies |publisher = alivenotdead.com |access-date = 2 October 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101004035449/http://www.alivenotdead.com/jetli/International-Federation-of-Red-Cross-and-Red-Crescent-Societies-profile-1078102.html |archive-date = 4 October 2010 |df = dmy-all }}</ref></blockquote>

It was also announced in September 2010, when Li was attending his wax unveiling ceremony in Hong Kong Madame Tussauds, that Li would be meeting Bill Gates and Warren Buffett to talk about charity work.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://yule.sohu.com/20100929/n275336232.shtml |title = 李连杰蜡像揭幕 将与比尔盖茨会面谈公益(图)-搜狐娱乐 |work = sohu.com |access-date = 30 May 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160306191328/http://yule.sohu.com/20100929/n275336232.shtml |archive-date = 6 March 2016 |df = dmy-all }}</ref> "Three days ago, I received an email from Gates, hoping I could make time because he and Buffett hoped I could go for a 30-minute chat before the dinner about the future we face as human beings, so I will go," Li said.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5i1gBUT-Z9nphtUn--SyTzZ4CzVKg |title = China film star Jet Li to meet Gates, Buffett |date = 21 September 2010 |access-date = 2 October 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100925071856/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5i1gBUT-Z9nphtUn--SyTzZ4CzVKg |archive-date = 25 September 2010 }}</ref>